New age rubbernecking: drivers taking photos of crash scenes

Motorists slowing down to take pictures at crash scene are charged with distracted driving.

An air ambulance was called to Hwy. 403 at Winston Churchill Blvd. on Thursday following an accident that closed all lanes in both directions. Police say the crash may have been caused by distracted driving.

Most motorists will agree that rubbernecking is one of the great scourges of modern society.

A fender bender on the Don Valley Parkway can turn into a nightmare, leaving traffic backed up for kilometres, as drivers slow down to take a look.

But police now have a tool that may curb rubbernecking: distracted driving.

Around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, a dump truck’s bucket somehow became unlashed, crashing into an overpass on Highway 403. The bucket was wedged into the bridge and took about five hours to clear.

Motorists being motorists took a good, long look at the scene as they rolled by. Some even whipped their phones out and snapped photos. The OPP took the opportunity to nail those drivers, charging at least 12 of them with distracted driving.

Call it new-age rubbernecking.

“We see this time and time again at these major crash scenes,” OPP Sgt. Dave Woodford told CP24.

The resulting fine: up to $155. Distracted driving can lead to careless driving charges, where fines range from $400 to $2,000, potential licence suspension and up to six months in jail.

Distracted driving laws came into effect in 2009, making it illegal to talk, text or use a phone in any manner while driving.

Peel Regional Police recently completed a campaign against distracted driving, issuing 343 tickets over a week that ended Sunday. This represented a 6 per cent increase in tickets issued last year.

Soon after the overpass crash happened Thursday morning, a multiple car collision occurred on the same highway near Winston Churchill Blvd. Police say the accident may have been caused by distracted drivers.

Studies show drivers using their phones are four times more likely to be involved in a crash than undistracted drivers, according to the Transportation ministry.

It’s unclear how many drivers snap photos as they cruise by a crash.

“We’re not keeping stats on how they’re driving distracted,” said Const. Hugh Smith with Toronto traffic services. “It’s happening because the technology is there. Ten years ago this wasn’t a problem. I think we’ll have to make some new laws to keep up with technology.”

George Wu, strolling along Yonge St. with Snoop Lion booming from his headphones, said he’s taken the odd photo while driving.

“You see something cool and you just have to take a pic,” said Wu, 27.

“But I also hate rubberneckers. I’d never take a pic of a car accident. Plus, there are usually cops there. It’s just dumb to do that in front of them.”

Sarah Bradley, 22, said she’s never taken photos while driving, but knows “a few friends who are addicted to Instagram, so they take photos of everything that happens in their lives.”

Smith said in the age where anyone with a camera is a journalist, it’s not uncommon for motorists to take photos of a gruesome crash in order to send it to news outlets.

With files from Dylan Robertson

More on thestar.com

We value respectful and thoughtful discussion. Readers are encouraged to flag comments that fail to meet the standards outlined in our
Community Code of Conduct.
For further information, including our legal guidelines, please see our full website
Terms and Conditions.